Hive001 - Pete Woodbridge

Unlock the future of storytelling with Hive: Immersive Innovation Knowhow - a free, expert-led programme for Manchester’s creatives at the cutting edge of games, immersive tech, and interactive design. These live sessions with top UK innovators will give you the tools, insights, and connections to elevate your work and shape what’s next.

We are proud to launch this expert interview series with Pete Woodbridge - a creative technologist, educator, and producer whose work sits at the intersection of immersive storytelling, innovation, and commercial strategy.

Pete brings a rare and valuable perspective to the Hive community. As R&D Innovation Lead for Music Futures and founder of Curious Magic, he has spent over a decade navigating the evolving landscape of immersive media - from speculative design and spatial storytelling to real-world applications in education, culture, and business.

15th October 1330 - Online Call

What Makes Pete’s Interview Essential Viewing?

• Creative + Commercial Balance: Pete has successfully bridged the gap between artistic experimentation and sustainable business models - a challenge many creatives and SMEs face in the immersive space.
• Immersive Pedagogy: His work in education and curriculum design offers deep insight into how immersive tools can be used to teach, engage, and inspire - especially relevant for those building experiences with social or educational impact.
• Future-Facing Thinking: Pete is a thought leader in speculative design and futures thinking, helping teams imagine and prototype what’s next in storytelling, interaction, and audience engagement.
• Real-World Experience: From working with major institutions to launching his own ventures, Pete’s journey is packed with lessons on collaboration, innovation, and resilience in a fast-moving industry.

Who Should Watch?

• Creative technologists looking to sharpen their storytelling and design skills.
• Studios and SMEs seeking sustainable models for immersive production.
• Educators and cultural producers exploring new ways to engage audiences.
• Anyone working at the frontier of games, XR, or interactive media.

Pete’s session will set the tone for Hive’s mission: to share insider knowledge, spark collaboration, and help Manchester’s creative community - and beyond - build smarter, bolder immersive work.

HIVE is organised by MITIH - MediaCity’s immersive technologies innovation hub - connecting media, skills, technology, and creativity through cutting-edge R&D, collaboration and funding.